Beech 58 accident near Walnut Cove, North Carolina, January 17, 1989
On January 17, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N166LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walnut Cove, North Carolina (Meadow Brook airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MADE THE LANDING APPROACH TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST FOR THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND FAILED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE FENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Walnut Cove, North Carolina · Meadow Brook · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N166LC · no longer on the register · serial TH-990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A THREE HOUR FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE AN APPROACH AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST FOR LANDING. HE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE 'LATTER PART OF THE RUNWAY.' AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED & THE TIRES FAILED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THROUGH A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP IN THE ADJOINING PASTURE FIELD WITH THE RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY '. . . COMMENCING A GO-AROUND AFTER TOUCH DOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT AND SEEING INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY LENGTH TO STOP AND EXECUTING PROPER APPROACH.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1989; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-CB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIE St Petersburg FL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: NC28
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 2,830 ft by 32 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N166LC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.